when to chipsaway or not to chipsaway

sawood12 · Apr 25, 2006

I have used chipsaway once before on my wifes old Polo and was very impressed with the service. However I was just wondering what the limits are with Chipsaway and when does it become a better option to use a body shop. The chip on my wifes car was a fairly small one, about 6/7mm in dia but the paint had started to bubble up around the chipped area. The Chipsaway guy said it was not problem but they don't provide any warranty for further corrosion which I thought was fair enough, however I have an area of bubbled up pain on my drivers door right in the outer lower corner. The affected area is approximately 20mm in dia and i'm wondering if this is beyond the capablilities of he Chipsaway technique. I've seen magazine reports on people who have used them for large areas of scuffs on bumpers so i'm sure the size of the affected area is not a problem but the rust might be.

I've been quoted £120 at a bodyshop to sort but the Chipsaway method seems so much more convenient.

944turboS · Apr 25, 2006

Over to you Paul.

pauljmcnulty · Apr 25, 2006

I reckon Chips-Away are clearly the only company in their field to offer a truly professional service.

But, as Paul Smith has a vested interest I may have to moderate myself

sawood12 · Apr 26, 2006

I've not pointed my question to Paul on purpose as I realise the whole business of touting your wares on the forum is a sticky topic (although I don't have a problem with it as long as its not really blatant and the advice they give is impartial) so I was really interested in finding out if anyone had used Chipsaway for a similar sized blemish. However if Paul wants to comment on the capabilities of the Chipsaway process by using very impartial language then of course I would value his input!

Hilux · Apr 26, 2006

I spoke to Paul about chips on my car at PCGB HQ (I now have an additional 6mm dia one right in the middle of the bonnet following the Holland WOTY [

][

][&:]) and ironically he stated that he didnt do chips, just scratches.

Paul, am I wrong as I'm happy to give you my business? If not then anyone else recommend a company?

Diver944 · Apr 26, 2006

Scott, it does sound like your door is something that a S.M.A.R.T (Small to Medium Area Repair Technology) repairer could do, but I personally avoid anything that involves corrosion as I would not be able to offer my normal two year guarantee. Its difficult to say for sure without seeing the car though as everyone describes things in different ways.

Corrosion really has to be treated or ground out (or even the panel replaced) or it will just come back, and none of those options can be done on a same day basis working mobile at a customers home or work, so it ceases to become convenient (or smart). For corrosion a bodyshop will be best as they can take 1-2 hours a day over 3-4 days letting each stage dry properly whilst they then switch attention to another car they have booked in. I have to say that your quote of £120 sounds pretty reasonable though, make sure that they will blend the door paint into the front wing and the rear qtr panel, or the door will stick out like a sore thumb [

]

Paul (Hilux) you're right. Most smart repairers will try not to do just a few stonechips as its not financially viable to drive all the way to a customers house, spend an hour mixing paint, touch in the chips for another hour and then charge say £60. Very few customers will pay that for a stonechip (though some do [8D]). However if the smart repairer is there fixing some major paint damage (scuffed bumper, vandal scratch, dent etc) then like me he'll probably throw in the stonechips for a token fee (or even free if I'm kept in tea and cakes or the customer looks like Angelina Jolie [

])

Many people on the forum have asked me to look at a repair for them and I'm always happy to offer advice and I wish I could come to everyones house and help them out, but you have to remember I'm mobile and probably 95% of my work is done within 3 miles of my house. If I were to drive to Manchester and back to touch in a few stonechips I'd soon be broke and couldn't afford lots of shiny go faster bits for LIL [8D]

However the promise of copious cakes, tea and even Angelina may tempt me further afield for club members at the weekend []

Please moderate me if it looks like I'm open to bribery for cakes, fondant fancies, cream buns.....

pauljmcnulty · Apr 26, 2006

throw in the stonechips for a token fee (or even free if I'm kept in tea and cakes or the customer looks like Angelina Jolie )

May I be first in the queue with my wig, vest and shorts ensemble and twin handguns? [

]

Fen · Apr 26, 2006

I didn't know Lara Croft wore a wig. That's my illusion shattered...

Guest · Mar 27, 2007

Hello all,

I hope you don't mind me posting here (as a 996 owner..

) however I've been searching for a Chips Away (or similar) recommendation near my area (Windsor/M4 corridor) - as I have a fair few chips and a couple few minor scratches/scuffs that I'd like repaired. Can anyone help? I don't mind travelling for the right job...

Thanks in advance,

Justin

Neil Haughey · Mar 27, 2007

While we are on the subject of paint and chips etc. am I right in thinking that my pebble dashed badge panel and headlight covers would be best resprayed as complete items? I don't know if you can remember them but they have literally hundreds of tiny dents and chips. I thought about wet sanding them flat but to be honest the paint looks so think that there probably wouldn't be any paint left.

I also have the problem that me bonnet has stayed a slightly darker shade even after 2 sessions with the rotary(1x G3 then G10, 2nd time just G10). I believe that the heat cooking the paint for the past decade has left it such that rectification is maybe no longer possible?